(c) Do you agree that during the Second World War there was no significant progress
towards independence in the sub-continent? Give reasons for your answer.
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Answers
ANSWER:-
It is not true that no significant progress was made during the Second World War. Certainly there
were many events which failed, but despite this, independence was much nearer in 1945 than it had
been in 1939.
In 1939 as Congress members resigned from Congress ministries the Muslims felt a sigh of relief and
thanks giving prayers were offered to mark the end of Congress tyranny. The celebration of day of
deliverance showed Muslims demand for a separate state. After this at the annual session of League in
1940 at Lahore the Pakistan resolution was passed unanimously by Muslims. It greatly showed that now
ML was voice of Muslims and an undisputed leader of Pakistan Movement. However, it was a failure as
the gulf b/w Muslims and Hindus was increasing and it showed that Muslims and Hindus could never live
together in harmony.
In March 1942 the British sent Sir Stafford Cripps to India to see if a compromise could be reached which
would win support for British war effort. Cripps proposed that after the war an Indian Union would be
set up with dominion status and that a constituent assembly would frame a new constitution. The ML
rejected the proposals as they did not mention setting up Pakistan. Congress rejected them because it
wasn’t prepared to wait until after the war.
So at first sight no progress had been made, as the British effort had been rejected by both parties.
However, Jinnah was pleased to see, that the right to opt out of a future Union was included. This
showed that the British realized the need to protect minority interests and was a step nearer
independence for the Muslims. Also the opposition to the Cripps proposals showed the British that the
Indian people were determined, which was also progress.
Following the Cripps Mission, on 8 August 1942 the All-India Congress committee passed its ‘Quit India
Resolution’ calling for immediate withdrawal of the British. For several reasons weeks there was wide
spread rioting and the British lost control in some parts of the country. So to deal with it Gandhi, Nehru
and other senior congress figures were arrested. The Congress was banned. This showed Congress
taking radical action.